Flying Through Europe – Great Crane Art Project Artist Appointment

We are delighted to announce that after an overwhelming 80+ artist applications and a rigorous selection process, Somerset Art Works has appointed artist Melanie Tomlinson to work on our European project ‘Flying Through Europe’ in partnership with The Great Crane Project and Ash Primary School, funded by SAW’s successful Arts Council application.

Melanie Tomlinson - Rodrigues Starling with Cafe MarronExtinct since 1740. Part of the Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition

Melanie Tomlinson works with illustration and metal to create vibrant and intensely detailed sculptures and three dimensional dioramas that reflect her deep love and passion for nature. She is particularly interested in the role of traditional folk narrative to explore the complex relationships between communities and the natural world.

She will be travelling to Germany to join the Crane team collecting and bringing back eggs in the Spring, and will be working closely with the project teams at SAW, The Great Crane Project, Ash School and their twinned European partner schools. As well as developing her own creative response to the project, her commission also involves running workshops with local and European Schools in both Somerset and abroad.

Melanie Tomlinson - Autumn Fieldfares

A few words from Melanie:
I am very excited to be appointed as lead artist working with Somerset Art Works and the Great Crane Project. I have a huge passion for nature and this opportunity will enable me to work closely with the project team and the wonderful Cranes themselves. Using illustration and metal to create a series of pre-cinema objects - such as zoetropes, I will be exploring the Cranes’ journey from Germany to Somerset through the moving image. The objects in motion will be filmed for online viewing. In addition to my own artistic response I am looking forward to working with pupils at schools in Somerset and Europe, exploring the beautiful Cranes through art workshops.


The finished work will be displayed at WWT Slimbridge in the Summer and during Somerset Art Weeks 2013.



With the support from Somerset Film, Melanie will be developing online elements to widen the reach of the project and increase schools' engagement both in the UK and Europe.

You can see more examples of Melanie's work at www.melanietomlinson.co.uk